Like its larger cousin, the QH-7, the QH-3 LAV is slow and cumbersome when compared to most other speeders. While sporting a medium blaster, the vehicle lacks sufficient armour plating to withstand much incoming fire. This, combined with its low top speed, makes it unsuitable for many military applications.
Although most commonly available speeders easily outpace it, it is more than capable of catching even the fastest beings on foot. Because of this, it has been adopted as a patrol and pursuit vehicle by a number of planets' security forces. The QH-3 LAV also has a large passenger capacity compared to most speeders, making it suitable for transporting small groups of workers, tourists or, in some cases, criminals around a city without the need for a larger, more expensive barge.